Pennisetum plant named ‘Burgundy Bunny’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Pennisetum  plant named ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ that is a warm season grass characterized by compact clumping habit, slow growth, and pronounced dark-red foliage in spring. In combination these traits set ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Pennisetum  known to the inventor.

Genus: PENNISETUM Species: alopecuroides.

Denomination: ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of fountaingrass grown as an ornamental for garden and landscape. The new inventionfrom the family Poaceae, formerly referred to as Gramineae, is knownbotanically as PENNISETUM alopecuroides and will be referred tohereinafter by the cultivar name ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’.

‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ was discovered in 2005 as a naturally occurringindividual plant mutation which the inventor discovered growing withinhis commercial crop of Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’(unpatented). The crop of ‘Little Bunny’ and the discovered mutationwere growing in 1 gallon containers which were standing out of doors atthe inventor's nursery in Walla Walla, Washington State. The inventorobserved that the new variety bore pronounced dark-red foliage and wasdense and compact in habit. The closest comparison variety known to theinventor is the parent variety Pennisetum ‘Little Bunny’. ‘BURGUNDYBUNNY’ is distinguishable from the comparison plant by foliage color,growth rate, and mature dimensions.

The distinguishing characteristics of ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ include compactclumping habit, small plant dimension, slow growth, and pronounceddark-red foliage beginning in spring. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ blooms summerthrough autumn. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ is a warm season, winter dormant grass.Dimensions the first year are 30 cm in height when in flower, and 20 cmin width. Mature dimensions are 30-35 cm in height when in flower, and40 cm in width. Cultural requirements include full sun, well-drainingporous soil, and moderate water. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ is hardy in USDA Zone6.

The first asexual propagation of ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ was accomplished bythe inventor, at the inventor's nursery in Walla Walla, Wash. Asexualpropagation was conducted in 2006. The method of propagation used wasdivision. Since that time under careful observation ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ hasbeen determined fixed, stable, uniform, and true to type in subsequentgenerations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’. These traits incombination set ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ apart from all other existing varietiesof Pennisetum known to the inventor. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ has not beentested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may beobserved with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions without however any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ exhibits pronounced dark-red foliage        beginning in spring.    -   2. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ exhibits compact clumping habit.    -   3. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ is slow growing.    -   4. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ is 30-35 cm. in height when in flower and        40 cm. in width at maturity.    -   5. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ performs best in full sun and well-draining        porous soil, with moderate water.    -   6. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ blooms summer through autumn.    -   7. ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ is hardy in USDA Zone 6.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ showing the color as true as is reasonably possible toobtain in color reproductions of this type. Color in the drawings maydiffer from color values cited in the detailed botanical description,which accurately describe the actual color of ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’. Theplant exhibited in the drawings is 1-year-old and growing out-of-doors.

The drawing labeled FIG. 1 depicts ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ in bloom growing ina 1-gallon container out-of-doors.

The drawing labeled FIG. 2 depicts the habit and foliage color of‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ growing out-of doors in the landscape. The drawingswere made in summer using conventional techniques and although flowerand foliage color may appear different from actual color due to lightreflectance, they are as accurate as possible by conventionalphotography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’.Observations, measurements, values and comparisons were collected in themonth of October 2008 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., from 9-month-old plantsgrowing out-of-doors in 1-liter containers. Color determinations aremade in accordance with The 2001 Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart from London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. The growing requirements of ‘BURGUNDYBUNNY’ are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification: PENNISETUM alopecuroides ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’.-   Family: Poaceae (formerly referred to as Gramineae).-   Genus: PENNISETUM.-   Species: alopecuroides.-   Denomination: ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’.-   Common name: Fountain grass.-   Habit: Compact clumping.-   Plant appearance: Tufted and tossled.-   Plant shape: Fountain-shaped.-   Commercial category: Ornamental grass.-   Use: For garden and landscape.-   Suggested commercial container size: 1-liter container.-   Parentage: PENNISETUM alopecuroides ‘BURGUNDY BUNNY’ was discovered    as a sport of the following parent:    -   -   Parent.—An individual Pennisetum ‘Little Bunny’            (unpatented).-   Propagation method: Division.-   Rooting system: Fibrous.-   Vigor: Low.-   Crop time (range): 9-12 months to produce a 1-liter container from    stem cuttings.-   Temperature (range): The recommended air temperature is 20-21°    Centigrade.-   Plant dimensions (first year): 30 cm. in height when in flower and    20 cm. in width.-   Plant dimensions (at maturity): 30-35 cm. in height when in flower    and 40 cm. in width.-   Cultural requirements: Grow in full sun and well-draining porous    soil, with moderate water.-   Pest or disease resistance: None known to the inventor.-   Pest or disease susceptibility: None known to the inventor.-   Hardiness: USDA Zone 6.-   Special considerations: Perennial in frost-free zones.-   Culm:    -   -   Length.—17 cm.        -   Width.—0.20 cm.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Form.—Hollow.        -   Surface.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—N144C.        -   Node color.—N144C.        -   Node surface.—Ciliate.        -   Node dimensions.—3 mm. in length and 0.22 cm. in width.        -   Internode (range).—9-12 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Winter deciduous.        -   Arrangement (range).—Basal to alternate.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sheathing.        -   Sheath open or closed.—Partially open.        -   Sheath length.—4.5 cm in length.        -   Sheath width.—0.22 cm.        -   Sheath color.—N144A.        -   Sheath surface.—Fluted.        -   Leaf shape.—Flattened linear. Blade length (average): 22 cm.            Blade width (average): 0.25 cm. Blade margin: Scabrous.            Blade surface (abaxial and adaxial): Fluted. Blade color            (first new growth after winter dormancy, both surfaces):            From yellow 2B and 2C to pale yellow green N144B and N144C.            All colors are present on an individual plant. Blade color            (summer growth phase, both surfaces): All leaves emerge            yellow 2B and 2C to pale yellow green N144B and N144C (both            surfaces). Blade color becomes bright orange red N34B and            N34A beginning from the apex and eventually throughout            entire leaf blade. Fully developed leaves age to maroon 187D            (adaxial surface) and 187B (abaxial surface). By late            summer, all colors cited above are present on an individual            plant.        -   Leaf apex.—Cirrhose.        -   Leaf base.—Truncate.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Vein color (abaxial and adaxial surfaces).—177A.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None observed.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Terminal spike.        -   Appearance.—Plumose.        -   Bloom season.—Summer through autumn.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Fragrance.—None observed.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence (range).—5-7 days.        -   Quantity (range).—18-26 per 1-liter container plant.        -   Shape (range).—Cylindrical to narrow oblong.        -   Aspect.—Facing outward and upward.        -   Length (range).—6.50 to 7 cm.        -   Width (range).—2 to 2.50 cm.        -   Color.—Overall color effect is 158D with underlying glints            of 187A and 199D that become apparent in bright sunlight.        -   Rachilla.—Rachilla shape: Sub-cylindrical. Rachilla surface:            Minutely warty. Rachilla dimensions (average): <1 mm. in            length. Rachilla color: A combination of 187A and 152D.        -   Glume.—Outer glume shape: Lanceolate. Inner glume shape:            Lanceolate. Quantity (average): 2 at base of spikelet. Outer            glume dimensions: 6 mm. in length and <1.5 mm. in width.            Inner glume dimensions. 5 mm. in length and <1 mm. in width.            Outer glume color: 199D. Inner glume color: 199D. Glume            surface: Glabrous. Glume apex: Acute.        -   Floret.—Arrangement: Arranged in 2 rows. Floret shape:            Lanceolate. Floret dimensions (range): 3-4 mm. in length and            2-3 mm. in width. Floret color: 138D. Lemma quantity: 1 per            floret. Palea quantity: 1 per floret. Lemma dimensions            (average): 9 mm. in length and 6 mm. in width. Palea            dimensions (range): 6-1.60 cm. in length and 1 mm. in width.            Lemma color: 161D. Palea color: 161D. Awn quantity            (average): 5 per floret. Awn color: 199D. Awn dimensions            (average): 6 mm. in length and <1 mm. in width.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamen: 3 in number. Stamen length:            3 mm. Stamen color: 156A. Anther: 3 in number. Anther            length: 2.50 mm. Anther color: 200C. Pistil: 1 in number.            Pistil color: 156A. Pistil length: 6 mm. Style: 2 in number.            Style shape: Plumose. Ovary: 146D. Ovary: Superior, rounded,            1 mm in diameter. Seed: Seed has not been found to be            present during repeated observations of the inflorescence.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Pennisetum plant named ‘BURGUNDYBUNNY’ as described and illustrated herein.